Apparatus for playing a game

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for playing a game comprises a generally rhomboidal playing area and first and second sets of playing pieces associated with a pair of opposing players. The playing pieces of the first set are of a first color and the playing pieces of the second set are of a second color. The playing area has an 8×8 array of playing positions. The playing positions at a pair of opposed apices of the playing area are designated master playing positions, each master playing position having the same color as the playing pieces of a respective one of the teams. Each set of playing pieces has a master playing piece and at least first, second and third groups of playing pieces. Each first group has at least two identical playing pieces which are movable over the playing area in a first predetermined manner. Each second group has at least three identical playing pieces which are movable over the playing area in a second predetermined manner. Each third group has at least four identical playing pieces which are movable over the playing area in a third predetermined manner. Each master playing piece is movable over the playing area in a further predetermined manner. The object of the game is for each player to move his/her master playing piece from the associated master playing position to the other master playing position.

This invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

The present invention provides apparatus for playing a game, theapparatus comprising a generally rhomboidal playing area and first andsecond sets of playing pieces, the sets being associated, in use, with apair of opposing players, the playing pieces of the first set having afirst identifiable characteristic, and the playing pieces of the secondset having a second identifiable characteristic distinguishable from thefirst identifiable characteristic, the playing area having an n×n arrayof playing positions, where n is an integer greater than 5, the playingpositions at a pair of opposed apices of the playing area beingdesignated master playing positions, each master playing position havingan identifiable characteristic corresponding to that of a respective setof playing pieces, and each set of playing pieces having a masterplaying piece and at least first, second and third groups of playingpieces, each first group having at least two identical playing pieceswhich are movable over the playing area in a first predetermined manner,each second group having at least three identical playing pieces whichare movable over the playing area in a second predetermined manner, andeach third group having at least four identical playing pieces which aremovable over the playing area in a third predetermined manner, eachmaster playing piece being movable over the playing area in a furtherpredetermined manner, the object of the for each player to move his/hermaster playing the associated master playing position to other masterplaying position.

In a preferred embodiment, the playing area has an 8×8 array of playingand each set of playing pieces includes a fourth group of playingpieces, each fourth group having at five identical playing pieces whichare movable over playing area in a fourth predetermined manner.Preferably, each first group has two playing pieces, each second grouphas three playing pieces, each third four playing pieces, and eachfourth group has playing pieces. Alternatively, each third may have fiveplaying pieces, and each fourth group have seven playing pieces.

Advantageously, the first and second identifiable characteristics arecolours, for example silver and gold.

In a preferred embodiment, each master playing piece is movable from agiven position to an adjacent playing position in any of the horizontal,vertical and diagonal directions. In this connection, it should be notedthat the vertical direction is the direction parallel to the straightline joining the apices of the playing area occupied by the masterplaying positions, the horizontal direction is the direction parallel tothe straight line joining the other two apices of the playing area, andthe diagonal directions are the directions parallel to the sidesdefining the rhomboidal playing area.

Preferably, each playing piece of each first group is movable from agiven playing position in either the vertical direction or thehorizontal direction to any playing position in the chosen direction ofmovement, provided it does not jump over any other playing piece; eachplaying piece of each second group is movable from a given playingposition in any diagonal direction to any playing position in the chosendirection of movement, provided it does not jump over any other playingpiece; each playing piece of each third group is movable from a givenplaying position either vertically to an adjacent playing position orhorizontally to an adjacent playing position and then in any diagonaldirection to an adjacent playing position; and each playing piece ofeach fourth group is movable from a given playing position to anadjacent playing position either horizontally or in any diagonaldirection.

Any playing piece may "take" an opposing playing piece by landing on theplaying position occupied by said opposing playing piece.

A game apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention will nowbe described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the playing area of the apparatus,and shows schematically the playing pieces of the apparatus at the startof the game;

FIG. 2 shows the playing pieces of the apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing how the playing pieces move.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a playing area constituted by aregular 8×8 array of circular playing positions (spaces) 1. The spaces 1are disposed so as to define a diamond-shaped (rhomboidal) playing area.The spaces 1a at the "acute end" apices of the playing area are definedas data bases or memories (master spaces). These spaces 1a are ofdifferent colours to each other and to the rest of the playing area. Onespace 1a is gold, the other being silver. The rows of spaces definingthe rest of the playing are alternately red and black, the spaces ofeach row adjacent to each of the data bases 1a being red.

The game is for two players, each of which controls a team of playingpieces. Each team of playing pieces includes playing pieces of fivedifferent types. The playing pieces of one team are coloured gold, andthe playing pieces of the other team are coloured silver. Each teamconsists of an artificial intelligence AI, two systems executives E,three systems designers D, four systems analysts A, and six systemsprogrammers P. FIG. 2 shows the design of each of these playing pieces.

The movement of each of the playing pieces will now be described withreference to FIG. 3, the directions of movement being defined as thevertical, horizontal and diagonal directions. In this connection, thevertical direction is taken to be the direction parallel to the straightline joining the spaces 1a, the horizontal direction is taken to be thedirection parallel to the straight line joining the other two apices ofthe playing area, and the diagonal directions are taken to be thedirections parallel to the sides of the rhomboidal playing area.According to these definitions, the rows of spaces 1 extend in thehorizontal direction.

Each systems programmer P may move one space in any diagonal orhorizontal direction. Each systems analyst A may move one spacevertically or may move one space horizontally and then one spacediagonally (that is to say a systems analst A can move to any one of thesix spaces which define a hexagon surrounding the six spaces to which asystems programmer p could move). A systems analyst A can move to alegitimate destination space, even if an intermediate space is occupiedby another playing piece. Each systems designer D may move in anydiagonal direction through any number of spaces desired, provided itdoes not jump over any other playing piece. Each systems executive E maymove either horizontally or vertically through as many spaces asdesired, provided it does not jump over any other playing piece.Consequently, a systems executive E can move only on red spaces. Eachartificial intelligence AI may move to the adjacent space in anyvertical, horizontal or diagonal direction.

Any playing piece may capture or take any opposing playing piece bylanding on the space occupied by that opposing playing piece. Capturedplaying pieces must be removed from the playing area, and cannot bereturned thereto.

At the beginning of the game, the playing pieces are positioned as shownin FIG. 1, with each artificial intelligence AI on the data base 1a ofthe same colour. The aim of the game is to move one's artificialintelligence Ai from its own data base 1a to occupy the data base 1a ofthe opponent. If a player manages to do this, he/she wins the game.However, a player that loses his/her artificial intelligence AI does notlose the game, as the game can still be drawn by that player removingthe artificial intelligence AI of his/her opponent.

In a simplified version of the game, each team may include only fivesystems programmers P. At the start of the game, the systems programmersP will then be placed in the row next to that occupied by the systemsanalysts A. In a still simpler form of the game (intended primarily forbeginners and children), the systems programmers P may be dispensed withaltogether, and the game played on a playing area having a regular arrayof 7×7 spaces. It would also be possible to modify the game to make itmore difficult. For example, one version of the game has a rhomboidalplaying area constituted by a regular array of 9×9 circular spaces. Inthis case, each team would have five systems analysts A, and sevensystems programmers P. At the start of the game, the systems analysts Aof each team are positioned on the five spaces of the row which is tworows away from that occupied by the systems designers D of that team;and the seven systems programmers p of each team are positioned on theseven spaces of the row which is two rows away from that occupied by thesystems analysts A of that team. It would also be possible, withsuitable software, to provide a "computer" game version of the game, sothat a player could play against a computer.

I claim:
 1. Apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising agenerally rhomboidal playing area and first and second sets of playingpieces, the sets being associated, in use, with a pair of opposingplayers, the playing pieces of the first set having a first identifiablecharacteristic, and the playing pieces of the second set having a secondidentifiable characteristic distinguishable from the first identifiablecharacteristic, the playing area having an n×n array of playingpositions, where n is an integer greater than 5, the playing positionsat a pair of opposed apices of the playing area being designated targetplaying positions, each target playing position having an identifiablecharacteristic corresponding to that of a respective set of playingpieces, and each set of playing pieces having a master playing piece andat least first, second and third groups of playing pieces, each firstgroup having at least two identical playing pieces each of which ismovable over the playing area from a given playing position in eitherthe vertical direction or the horizontal direction to any playingposition in the chosen direction of movement, provided it does not jumpover any other playing piece, each second group having at least threeidentical playing pieces each of which is movable over the playing areafrom a given playing position in any diagonal direction to any playingposition in the chosen direction of movement, provided it does not jumpover any other playing piece, and each third group having at least fouridentical playing pieces each of which is movable over the playing areafrom a given playing position either vertically to an adjacent playingposition or horizontally to an adjacent playing position and then in anydiagonal direction to an adjacent playing position, each master playingpiece being movable over the playing area from a given playing positionto an adjacent playing position in any of the horizontal, vertical anddiagonal directions.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein theplaying area has an 8×8 array of playing positions, and each set ofplaying pieces includes a fourth group of playing pieces, each fourthgroup having at least five identical playing pieces each of which ismovable over the playing area from a given playing position to anadjacent playing position either horizontally or in any diagonaldirection.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each first grouphas two playing pieces, and each second group has three playing pieces.4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each third group has fourplaying pieces, and each fourth group has six playing pieces. 5.Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each third group has fiveplaying pieces, and each fourth group has seven playing pieces. 6.Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each playing piece of eachfourth group is movable from a given playing position to an adjacentplaying position either horizontally or in any diagonal direction. 7.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and secondidentifiable characteristics are different colours.